Colonel David L. Halasi-Kun is the Wing Commander, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts. In this role, he ensures the unit is mission ready and can effectively support the alert homeland defense and the expeditionary deployment missions with the assigned F-15C Eagles and over 1000 military and civilian personnel.
Colonel Halasi-Kun commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998 and graduated from Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot training in May of 2000. In 2008, after serving 10 years on active duty, Colonel Halasi-Kun joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard, where he has been serving for the last 15 years. In his 25-year career, he has flown more than 3000 hours in the F-15 and participated in combat/combat support deployments flying in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Colonel Halasi-Kun is a full-time pilot with the Massachusetts Air National Guard and maintains instructor and evaluator pilot qualifications. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was the Vice Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, on-line masters program, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2017 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, National Defense University Eisenhower School, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
- September 1998 – March 1999, Flight Test Engineer, Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Cailf.
- March 1999 – May 2000, Student Pilot Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJET), Sheppard AFB, Texas
- August 2000 – September 2000, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Miss.
- November 2000 – May 2001, F-15C Student Pilot, 2nd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- June 2001 – April 2004, F-15C Pilot, Squadron Chief of Training, 390th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
- May 2004 – October 2006, F-15C Evaluator Pilot, Wing Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- October 2006 – January 2008, F-15C Evaluator Pilot, Wing F-15/F-22 Syllabus Development, Flight Commander, 95th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- January 2008 – July 2011, F-15C Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Training, Flight Commander, 131st Fighter Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Mass.
- July 2011 – July 2012, Strategic Studies Group for Director ANG, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- July 2012 – June 2018, Operations Officer, Commander, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
- June 2018 – June 2019, Vice Commander, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
- June 2019 – June 2020, Commander, 104th Mission Support Group, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
- June 2020 – June 2022, Vice Commander, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
- June 2022 – Present, Commander, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,150
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, and F-15A/C/D/J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 Introduction to fighter Fundamentals Top Gun, Columbus AFB, Ala.
2003 390 FS Flight Lead of the Year, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
2004 Top 1/3 Graduate, Squadron Officers School
2004 33rd Fighter Wing Instructor Pilot of the Year, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2009 104th Fighter Wing Instructor Pilot of the Year, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
2010 104th Fighter Wing Instructor Pilot of the Year, Barnes ANGB, Mass.
2017 Distinguished Graduate, National Defense University; Eisenhower School, Washington, D.C.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 27, 1998
First Lieutenant May 27, 2000
Captain May 27, 2002
Major Oct. 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 13, 2012
Colonel Sept. 1, 2018
(Current as of January 2024)